The Merchandise GuideEagle Models: Hawk Models
Compiled by Martin Willey
The Merchandise Guide
US 1977
Fundimensions Plastic Construction Kit no 1-1904
25 x 15 x 5.5 cm kit in 25 parts including stands. Accurate representation of "War Games" spaceship (probably made with reference to the original model, in contrast to the MPC/Airfix Eagle).
Box: art of Hawk with large logo. "Suitable ages 8 to adult"
MPC also produced the Eagle Transporter, The Alien and Moonbase Alpha.
Pictures thanks to Gordon Moriguchi:
MPC catalog
UK 1977, 1979
No 05173-2. Like the Eagle, Airfix shared the Hawk kit with MPC in the US. While the Eagle seems to have originated with MPC, the original mastering of the Hawk kit may have been in the UK by Airfix, as it closely matches the smaller studio model.
Box 25 x 15 x 5.5 cm. Art of Hawk.
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1977 original issue. Titled "Hawk Spaceship". The box bottom left under the Space:1999 logo has an orange surround. First edition boxes had a "New" flash, which disappeared in 1978. |
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1979 second issue. Titled in English and French ("Vaisseau Spatial Hawk"). The box bottom left under the Space:1999 logo has a green surround. |
1977 issue. Most model kit boxes were simply taped shut, not shrink wrapped (the tape marks are still visible on this box). The shrink wrapping here may have been done by the retail shop.
1977 box, thanks to Gordon Moriguchi
1979 box
Instruction sheet 51 x 18 cm, in English, French & German, outlining series & Hawk.
Text from instruction sheet:
From deep inter-stellar space the Hawk fleet thundered towards Alpha Moonbase, a major threat to the small colony of Earth people still surviving on the Moon. Thus begins another adventure in the smash-hit science fiction TV series "Space: 1999". Created by Gerry Anderson, this space series highlights the adventures of a colony of scientists on the moon following a gigantic nuclear explosion which tears the asteroid from the Earth's gravitational field and sends it hurtling off through space. An advanced attack-intercepter [sic] spaceship, Hawk was developed from the Eagle space transporter but only basic constructional components were used. It has a similar control cabin or "beak" to the Eagle but it incorporates more advanced instrumentation enabling the crew to use the on-board computer to carry out many of the craft's operational duties. In the attack role, Hawk has high-powered long range lasers capable of destroying almost anything. When attacked the ship can surround itself with an invisible protective wall strong enough to withstand most weapons. Hawk is fast, in fact nearly three times as fast as Eagle and with the help of its high-powered nuclear engines it can out-manoeuvre almost any enemy.
Full page advertisements appeared in children's comics, featuring the box artwork and a short story "Will the Hawk Spaceship destroy Eagle 3?". Koenig, Allen Carter (sic) and pilot Anderson encounter a Hawk Space Fighter by an asteroid. The spaceship chases them, but they realise it is a hallucination and the Hawk disappears. "It would probably remain one of the many insoluble mysteries they were to encounter on their voyage through the depths of space." The text continues: "Created as an escort and close support vessel to space fleets, the Hawk's major role is as an advanced attack-interceptor spaceship. The Hawk spaceship is a development from the Eagle space transporter." Read the full text
Airfix also produced the Eagle.
Copyright Martin Willey
